Review: Codex Restaurant at Conrad Punta de Mita

This Codex Restaurant Review is from our visit to the Conrad Punta de Mita, Mexico, which opened in 2021. Stay tuned for our review of the Conrad Punta de Mita, which we reserve for clients with Hilton Impresario benefits.

Codex Restaurant Location and Hours

Codex is located on the beach at the Conrad Punta de Mita, Carr. Punta de Mita, Sayulita Litibu. It serves dinner Tuesdays-Sundays from 6-9:30pm. Advance reservations are recommended, and are available via OpenTable.

We requested a table with a view, but even though we were dining early, we were initially assigned a table with no view, close to the bathrooms. We immediately requested a move to a better table, and recommend a reservation on the earlier side so that if you're assigned a poor table, you can request a move.

Codex Restaurant Review, Conrad Punta de Mita

Codex Menu and Food

During our check-in, there was a short welcome ceremony where we were given flowers and herbal tea. While I like the idea in theory, the tea tasted of nothing, so I'd suggest rethinking it: either make the welcome beverage more memorable, or cut the ceremony.

Codex's menu isn't large, and unfortunately the night we dined, there was no Soft-Shell Crab, which we'd been looking forward to trying. That mean that most of the mains were meat based, so we balanced that out with ordering seafood appetizers to share.

After being led to the poorly placed table and at last managing to switch to a better table, things improved. The complimentary breads were presented beautifully, with fresh herbs snipped over them. The buttery savory roll with chili was especially delicious; our server was kind enough to offer us seconds, which we took him up on.

Delicious Breads, Codex Restaurant Review

An amuse bouche stuffed with chorizo sausage was also very good.

We especially enjoyed our two seafood appetizers; they were the highlights of our meal. The aged Kampachi with avocado, lemon, and green aguachile was my favorite, while my husband favored the Tuna Crudo, with avocado, soy foam, and sweet lime:

We ordered three mains; my favorite in terms of taste was the Pork Duo, with its confit pancetta, but it was a small portion more suitable as an appetizer.

The Totoaba fish with squid ink sauce and parsnip puree was also good, although not as memorable.

The Lamb shoulder was a more rustic kind of dish, served with chickpea puree and carrots, along with consomme. Tortillas were served alongside, but the broth made the combination difficult and messy to eat. Although it was a larger portion than the more refined pork dish, I wouldn't order it again.

We'd enjoyed the pacing of our appetizers and main courses, but there was a protracted wait for our dessert, which we regretted ordering and considered cancelling. Cacao Y Pasilla is a chocolate mousse dessert, prettily plated, which my husband and son devoured most of. Perfectly fine, but don't expect Pierre Herme.

Cacao Y Pasilla Chocolate Dessert, Codex

The Verdict

Codex is an ambitious restaurant, with much to recommend it: a romantic ambience by the beach, fantastic complimentary breads, especially the savory roll with chili; delicious Kampachi main and Tuna Crudo appetizer, and some dramatically presented mignardises to finish off the meal. Service was mostly very good, although it was disappointing to be given such a poor table at the outset, given that our reservation was made so many months ago, and the pacing deteriorated after we were served our main courses. There could be more seafood and vegetarian main course offerings in light of the Soft-shell Crab being unavailable; the restaurant is not a good choice for vegetarians.